Blacks started participating in theater as slaves when they were brought to America on slave ships. They were forced to entertain the crew and slave masters, and theater became a way of survival for them. Blacks were first shown as profane clowns and imbeciles in 1769 in the play The Padlock. Plays such as Robinson Crusoe and Harlequin only showed Blacks in negative lights. Others were only shown as dumb boring people. In 1776 John Leacock made The Fall of British Tyranny. It showed black troops agreeing to kill their masters during the Revolutionary War. William Wells Brown was the first black man to write novels, dramas, journals, and play based on his personal experience in slavery. Though it was not performed, it was criticized positively. White theater continued to show Blacks as funny dumb subordinates, but Blacks were creating their own theater companies, such as the African Grove Theatre founded by James Hewitt. It started in 1821 incorporating Shakespearean drama, readings, and recitals. The audience was diverse but Whites in the audience were negative and mean to the performers. The police would arrest and interrupt the plays to decrease viewership and eventually in 1823, the African Theatre shut down.Ira Aldrige was prominent by being recognized by England royalty in 1824 and by other foreign audiences. next came "Tom shows" which showcased antislavery plays and supposedly caused the Civil War to start. Black singers were becoming popular as well, being advertised as genuine on touring companies. In 1853 the National Theater announced theater for Blacks and eventually, Uncle Tom's Cabin was played by a Back man. In the 1840s Minstrelsy began by ripping off Blacks and using black face to imitate and ridicule Blacks. This form focused on making fun of Blacks by exaggerating their dress, habits, looks, and personalities. In 1865 black minstrel troupes began to grow and expand into large groups. Black minstrel companies started growing successfully, along with black stars and performers. Whites continued to make fun of Blacks, taking control of theater and making sure only they could enjoy the theater. All black musicals reached Broadway and helped the Williams and Walker partnership become a successful group. Though some black performers were getting paid handsomely, they were still being required to live segregated and discriminate lives. The Harlem Renaissance was the beginning of cultural, intellectual, political, and social awareness for Blacks. It freed the blacks from restraints and negativity of whites and allowed serious critiques to take place. Around 1910 racial discrimination was demonstrated in theater. W. E. B. Du Bois was known as a public figure to all blacks who promoted black theater. The Great Depression in the 1930s ended many theaters in Harlem dues to financial reasons and loss of interest, however great hits such as The Great Pastures were made and received much love and popularity. Langston Hughes was the most iconic of all the writers. He made a living writing, founded three theaters, and had the longest running Broadway play by a Black writer. He was an influence to many other Black writers and left a legacy to be followed by many. Programs such as the WPA helped theater workers find work in light of the Depression and allowed blacks to express and interpret their own culture. WWII also caused many theaters to close, which caused other groups such as ANT to form. Television stole many theater goers and loss of finance and interest caused theater to go down. Black colleges started to offer theater courses and training. In the late 1950s and early 1960s many young black writers started emerging. The civil rights movement caused black theater to be more revolutionary. Blacks had an increasing sense of identity and started making fun of whites, just as whites had done to blacks. This caused their funds to be dropped, as whites were the ones with the money at the time. Blacks continue to be made fun of by whites, exploited by whites, and must stick together to make a difference in the society today. The only thing holding them together is themselves. Black theater shows the unity and brother/sisterhood of blacks and is now being recognized nationally with Tony Awards and other achievements.
I think Fires in the Mirror is a black theater play because it shows the problems Blacks in the specific community face and how the justice system works for and against them. The Blacks in the play mention how they stick together and how they have to act a certain way to conform to society's liking.
Blacks started participating in theater as slaves when they were brought to America on slave ships. They were forced to entertain the crew and slave masters, and theater became a way of survival for them. Blacks were first shown as profane clowns and imbeciles in 1769 in the play The Padlock. Plays such as Robinson Crusoe and Harlequin only showed Blacks in negative lights. Others were only shown as dumb boring people. In 1776 John Leacock made The Fall of British Tyranny. It showed black troops agreeing to kill their masters during the Revolutionary War. William Wells Brown was the first black man to write novels, dramas, journals, and play based on his personal experience in slavery. Though it was not performed, it was criticized positively. White theater continued to show Blacks as funny dumb subordinates, but Blacks were creating their own theater companies, such as the African Grove Theatre founded by James Hewitt. It started in 1821 incorporating Shakespearean drama, readings, and recitals. The audience was diverse but Whites in the audience were negative and mean to the performers. The police would arrest and interrupt the plays to decrease viewership and eventually in 1823, the African Theatre shut down.Ira Aldrige was prominent by being recognized by England royalty in 1824 and by other foreign audiences. next came "Tom shows" which showcased antislavery plays and supposedly caused the Civil War to start. Black singers were becoming popular as well, being advertised as genuine on touring companies. In 1853 the National Theater announced theater for Blacks and eventually, Uncle Tom's Cabin was played by a Back man. In the 1840s Minstrelsy began by ripping off Blacks and using black face to imitate and ridicule Blacks. This form focused on making fun of Blacks by exaggerating their dress, habits, looks, and personalities. In 1865 black minstrel troupes began to grow and expand into large groups. Black minstrel companies started growing successfully, along with black stars and performers. Whites continued to make fun of Blacks, taking control of theater and making sure only they could enjoy the theater. All black musicals reached Broadway and helped the Williams and Walker partnership become a successful group. Though some black performers were getting paid handsomely, they were still being required to live segregated and discriminate lives. The Harlem Renaissance was the beginning of cultural, intellectual, political, and social awareness for Blacks. It freed the blacks from restraints and negativity of whites and allowed serious critiques to take place. Around 1910 racial discrimination was demonstrated in theater. W. E. B. Du Bois was known as a public figure to all blacks who promoted black theater. The Great Depression in the 1930s ended many theaters in Harlem dues to financial reasons and loss of interest, however great hits such as The Great Pastures were made and received much love and popularity. Langston Hughes was the most iconic of all the writers. He made a living writing, founded three theaters, and had the longest running Broadway play by a Black writer. He was an influence to many other Black writers and left a legacy to be followed by many. Programs such as the WPA helped theater workers find work in light of the Depression and allowed blacks to express and interpret their own culture. WWII also caused many theaters to close, which caused other groups such as ANT to form. Television stole many theater goers and loss of finance and interest caused theater to go down. Black colleges started to offer theater courses and training. In the late 1950s and early 1960s many young black writers started emerging. The civil rights movement caused black theater to be more revolutionary. Blacks had an increasing sense of identity and started making fun of whites, just as whites had done to blacks. This caused their funds to be dropped, as whites were the ones with the money at the time. Blacks continue to be made fun of by whites, exploited by whites, and must stick together to make a difference in the society today. The only thing holding them together is themselves. Black theater shows the unity and brother/sisterhood of blacks and is now being recognized nationally with Tony Awards and other achievements.
I think Fires in the Mirror is a black theater play because it shows the problems Blacks in the specific community face and how the justice system works for and against them. The Blacks in the play mention how they stick together and how they have to act a certain way to conform to society's liking.